Vodka is a distilled spirit with a high alcohol content that can be produced from a number of different materials and possess different characteristics depending on the creator. Most produced these days is made from a grain, though some is still made from potatoes. The exact history of this spirit is unknown, though it most likely originated somewhere in the region of Poland or Russia between the 14th and 16th centuries. The word is thought to derive from Russian, meaning roughly “little water”.
The majority of vodkas produced today for consumption in the United States and Western Europe are made from either wheat or rye and are heavily filtered. By law, in these regions, vodka cannot have a distinctive color, smell, or flavor. It is, in many ways, an essential spirit, which is one reason it is so popular in mixed drinks and as a base alcohol for flavored spirits.
Traditionally, vodka may be made from virtually anything — grapes, soy, beets, potatoes, corn, wheat, and rye. Some are even made from leftover material in the oil refining process. In many Eastern European countries, vodka is not as heavily filtered as it is in the West, and so the flavors, smells, and colors from the source materials may shine through.
Vodka has also traditionally been flavored in many countries, either for pure enjoyment or for health reasons. Pepper vodka is perhaps the most widely known flavoring, favored in Russia, but fruit flavors and those flavored with spices such as cinnamon or vanilla are also not uncommon. Many nations also have a tradition of infusing the spirit with healing herbs, such as chamomile or St. John’s Wort.
The alcohol content of vodka varies widely, as it may be distilled to any level of alcohol. In most cases, vodka that contains 40% alcohol (80 Proof) is the most common, for a number of reasons. Historically, Alexander III of Russia set certain standards for production in his country, one of which was a required alcohol level of 40%. This level continues to be the most popular, in part because the United States and many European countries set their tax levels of spirits based on the alcohol content, and 40% spirits have a reasonable amount of taxation. Vodka that contains 50% alcohol (100 Proof) is also fairly common in the United States and Europe, as is watered down vodka of 20% (40 Proof). Some varieties, such as the Polish rectified spirits, may contain as much as 95% alcohol (190 Proof).
Although drunk straight in most of the countries where vodka has a long history, in the United States and Western Europe, a great deal of its popularity can be attributed to its use in mixed drinks — a practice many Eastern Europeans consider bad form. Since this spirit has a high alcohol content and little to no taste, color, or smell, it is ideal as a vessel to carry other liquids and alcohols. Bloody Marys, Vodka Martinis, and Screwdrivers are just a few of the most popular drinks that have found extraordinary success because of vodka's ability to pair well with almost anything.